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BLUNDERS  IN  ENGLISH 


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HAIDEOOK  OF  BUJPBSS 


DESIGNED  TO  PREVENT 


1,000  COMMON  BLUNDERS 


WRITING    AND    SPEAKING 


HARLAN  H.  BOLLARD,  A.M. 

PRINCIPAL  OF  LE^OX  ACADEMY 
LENOX,  MASS. 


BOSTON 

LOTHROP,   LEE   &   SHEPARD  CO. 


Copyright,  1884, 
,%Btt  LEE  AND 


All  Rights  Reserved. 


ELECTROTTPBD 
BY  C.  J.  PETERS  AND   SOW. 


PKEFACE. 


IT  is  not  the  purpose  of  this  book  to  offer 
much  that  is  new  in  the  line  of  rhetorical  or 
grammatical  criticism,  but  simply  to  give, 
in  a  form  convenient  for  reference,  a  num- 
ber of  such  hints  and  suggestions  as  have 
been  found  useful  in  the  experience  of  the 
schoolroom. 

This  catalogue  of  blunders  is  by  no  means 
exhaustive,  but  it  includes  most  of  those  in- 
elegancies  and  inaccuracies  of  speech  that 
jar  our  ears  with  daily  iteration. 

If  every  one  were  in  the  habit  of  con- 
stantly using  the  choicest  English  at  his 
command,  many  of  the  grosser  errors  might 
have  been^mitte^;  hut  as  we  have  found 

Q^l-L          3 


4  HANDBOOK   OF    BLUNDERS. 

that  it  is  quite  as  necessary  to  remind  as  to 
teach,  it  has  seemed  best  to  call  attention 
once  more  to  expressions  as  common  and 
as  careless  as  "  I  have  n't  any  I  don't 
think;"  and  "Everyone  should  abide  by 
their  own  convictions  of  duty." 

It  is  hoped  that  this  volume  may  prove 
useful  not  only  as  a  popular  handbook,  but 
also  as  a  text-book  in  the  schools. 


HANDBOOK  OF  BLUNDERS. 


A.    A  history,  not  an  history.    So  before  all  ac- 
cented syllables  that  begin  with  the  sound 
of  h. 
A  one,  not  an  one.    So  always  before  the  sound 

of  w. 
A  unit,  not  an  unit.     So  always  before  the 

sound  of  the  consonant  y. 
A  king  and  a  peasant  are  alike  mortal,  not  a 
king  and  peasant,  unless  both  terms  refer  to 
the  same  man  at  the  same  time. 
That  kind  of  man,  not  that  kind  of  a  man. 
The  article  is   improper  after  the   phrases 
kind  of,  sort  of,  etc. 

5 


•J  HANBBOOK    6F    BLUNDERS. 

ability,  capacity.    Capacity  is  the  power  of 

y 

receiving  ;  ability,  of  using. 
above*    a.  Not  well  used  in  the  sense  of  fore- 
going. 

b.  More  than  500,  not  above  500.—  Bryant. 
abridge,  abbreviate.    Words  are  abbrevi- 
ated; works  abridged. 
accent,  emphasis.    We  accent  syllables  and 

emphasize  words. 
acoustics.     Acoustics  is,  not  are.     Names  of 

sciences  in  ics,  originally  plural  forms,  are  now 

regarded  as  singular. 
admit,  not  admit  of. 
advance,  proceed.     We   advance  further; 

we  proceed  farther.     ( See  farther.) 
again,  not  over  again. 
ago,  since.      Ago  looks  backward  from  the 

present;  since  locks  forward  from  a  past  time  : 

It  happened  years  ago.    It  is  years  since  we 

met. 

agree.    We  agree,   better  than  we  are  agreed. 
agreement.    Rule.  —  As  the  sense  of  a  sub- 


HANDBOOK   OF   BLUNDERS.  7 

ject  is  singular  or  plural,  its  verb  is  singular 
or  plural:  — 

1.  Horses  run. 

2.  A  horse  runs. 

3.  The  president  and  the  secretary  were 

elected. 

4.  The  scholar  and  statesman  was  elected 

president. 

5.  The  Senate  is  adjourned. 

6.  The  Senate  are  of  different  opinions. 
agriculturist,  not  agriculturalist. 

all.    a.   Best,  worst,  etc.,    of  all,    not    of   all 

others.     (See  others.) 

b.  All  that,  not  all  who,  nor  all  which.    So  in 
all  restrictive  clauses. 

allow,  not  allow  of. 

all    over.     Over  all  the  county  is  more  logi- 
cal and  emphatic  than  all  over  the  county. 

almost.     It  is  almost,  not  most,  done.     Most 
should  never  be  used  in  the  sense  of  nearly. 

also,    likewise,    too.     Also  means  as  well 
as.    Likewise   means  in    a   similar    manner. 


8  HANDBOOK   OF  BLUNDERS. 

Too  means  in  addition.    Likewise  is  obsoles- 
cent. 

alter,  change.  To  alter  is  to  make  a  thing 
in  some  respect  different.  To  change  is  to 
substitute  one  thing  for  another. 

am.    I  am  not,  or  I'm  not;  not  I  ain't. 

an*    An  apple,  not  a  apple.    So  before  all  vowel 

sounds. 

An  hotel  or  a  hotel.  So  before  all  unaccented 
syllables  that  begin  with  the  sound  of  h. — 
W.  D.  Whitney. 

and*  Inelegant  if  used  for  to.  Come  to  see 
me,  not  Come  and  see  me. 

anguish,  agony •  Agony  is  physical ;  anguish, 
mental  suffering. 

animalcula,  or  animalcules,  not  aniinal- 
culse. 

answer,  reply.  We  answer  a  question;  we 
reply  to  an  accusation  or  objection. 

antique,  ancient,  old.  Antique  is  old- 
fashioned;  ancient  is  opposed  to  modern;  old  is 
opposed  to  young. 


HANDBOOK   OF    BLUNDERS.  9 

any  way,  at  any  rate*     Inelegant  for  in 
any  case,  in  any  event)  etc. 

apostrophe*  Rule. —  In  the  possessive  case  of 
nouns,  an  apostrophe  should  immediately  fol- 
low the  name  of  the  owner  or  owners :  —  boy's, 
boys';  man's,  men's;  Charles's,  or  Charles'; 
lady's,  ladies'. 

Caution. —  The  apostrophe  is  not  used  with  pro- 
nouns to  denote  possession.     Its,  not  it's. 

approve,  better  than  approve  of. 

approval,  approbation.    Approval  is  ex- 
pressed approbation. 

are.    Are  not,  or  are  n't,  not  ain't. 

arrived.    He  has  better  than  he  is  arrived. 

artiste,  for  artist,  forbidden  by  Bryant. 

as*  a.  As  large  as,  etc.,  not  so  large  as;  except 
in  negative  expressions :  Brooklyn  is  as  pleas- 
ant, but  is  not  so  large  as  New  York. 

b.  Sometimes  incorrectly  used  for  that;  I  can- 
not say  as  I  will. 

c.  Rule. — As,  when  a  conjunction,  must  unite 
similar  constructions:   (1.)  I  can  do  it  as  well 


10  HANDBOOK   OF    BLUNDERS. 

as  he;  not  him.     The  full  form  is,  I  can  do 
it  as  well  as  he  can  do  it.     (2.)  Invite  him 
as  well  as  me;  i.  e.,  as  well  as  you  invite  me. 
So  with  all  conjunctions. 
aspirant.     Forbidden  by  Bryant. 
assent,  consent*    We  assent  to  a  wish  or  an 

opinion ;  we  consent  to  an  act. 
at*    He  is  at  work,  at  home,  at  school,  at  Mr. 

Brown's,  etc.,  not  to. 
at  best,  etc.    At  the  best,  at  the  worst,  not  at 

best,  etc. 

at  length*  Incorrect  in  the  sense  of  at  last. 
To  hear  from  any  one  at  length  is  to  hear  in 
detail. — Ayres. 

ate.    I  ate  my  dinner,  not  I  eat  my  dinner. 
avenge,  revenge.    We  avenge  others;   we 

revenge  ourselves. 
authoress.    Author  is  better. 
avocation,  often   improperly  used  for   voca- 
tion.   An  avocation  is  an  "occasional  diversion 
from  one's  regular  business  or  vocation. 
awful,  awfully.    Vulgarly  used  for  very. 


HANDBOOK    OF   BLUNDERS.  11 

awkward,  clumsy.  Awkward  characterizes 
an  act;  clumsy,  a  shape. 

B. 

backward.  Preferable  to  backwards.  So  for- 
ward, toward,  etc. 

backwardly.    Obsolete. 

bad.  Very  often  carelessly  used  in  place  of 
ill,  unpleasant,  etc. 

badly*  Often  erroneously  used  for  greatly  or 
earnestly,  as,  I  wish  to  see  him  very  badly. 

baffle,  frustrate,  defeat.  To  baffle  is  to 
check;  to  frustrate  is  to  stop  effectually,  at  least 
for  the  time ;  to  defeat  is  to  frustrate  absolutely 
and  finally. 

ball.  "Anything  more  brutal  or  more  insolent 
cannot  be  imagined." — De  Quincey. 

bairn.  Scottish  and  provincial  English.  Child 
is  usually  better. 

baking,  n.  Five  loaves  at  a  baking.  Not  in 
good  use  in  this  sense. 

balance*    Away  from  the  ledger,  and  in  such 


12  HANDBOOK   OF    BLUNDEKS. 

expressions  as  the  balance  of  the  evening,  the 
balance  of  the  company,  this  word,  in  the 
sense  of  remainder,  is  a  gross  vulgarism. 

balky.    An  Americanism,  but  well  established. 

bamboozle.    Low. 

bang.  In  the  sense  of  to  clip  the  hair,  vulgar, 
and  not  in  good  use. 

banquet,  in  the  sense  of  an  ordinary  dinner,  is 
not  good. 

bawl.  In  the  sense  of  cry,  not  applicable  to 
a  child  for  whom  you  have  affection. 

be.  If  I  be,  or  If  I  am.  There  seems  to  be  a  ten- 
dency to  drift  away  from  the  formal  subjunctive, 
be,  which  is  regretted  by  many  careful  writers. 

bears  and  bulls.  "  In  cant  language,  persons 
engaged  in  the  gambling  transactions  of  the 
Stock  Exchange."— Webster. 

bearish.    Dull,  heavy.    Slang. 

beastly.  In  such  expressions  as  beastly  weather, 
low  cockney  slang. 

beat,  beat  out.  In  the  sense  of  exhausted* 
low. 


HANDBOOK    OF    BLUNDERS.  13 

beau*    There  is  no  verb  to  beau. 

beautiful,  beautifully.  She  looked  beau- 
tiful, not  beautifully,  unless  you  mean  that  she 
used  her  eyes  in  a  beautiful  manner.  This  word 
is  greatly  abused,  as  in  such  expressions  as  I  've 
had  a  beautiful  time. 

bee,  in  the  sense  of  an  assemblage  of  persons 
united  in  friendly  labor,  is  an  Americanism. 

begin,  commence.  Begin  is  usually  the 
better,  as  it  is  the  simpler  word. 

beginner,  not  new  beginner. 

be-gone !  More  properly  written  as  two  words, 
Be  gone  ! 

behave.  The  command,  Now  behave  or  Be- 
have yourself,  leaves  it  uncertain  whether  the 
person  is  ordered  to  behave  well  or  ill.  Be- 
have does  not  mean  to  act  properly,  but  merely 
to  act. 

bender.    In  the  sense  of  frolic,  vulgar. 

bequeatn,  not  bequeathe. 

beside,  besides.  To  sit  beside  (not  besides) 
a  fountain. 


14  HANDBOOK   OF   BLUNDERS. 

This  is  beside  our  present  purpose  (not  besides). 
"Paul,  thou  art  beside  (not  besides)  thyself." 
(So  always  when  used  as  a  preposition  with 

the  meaning  of  aside  from,  out  of,  or  by  the 

side  of.) 
But,  Besides  this  there  are  other  reasons  (not 

beside). 
(So,  whenever  used  as  a  preposition  in  the  sense 

of  in  addition  to. ) 
And,  Hast  thou  any  here,  besides  ? 
(So,  when  used  as  an  adverb  or  elliptically. ) 
best.    Strictly,  better  of  the  two;  still  there  is 
authority  for  the  use  of  the  superlative  in  such 
cases,  and  many  writers  say  the  best  of  the  two 
by  preference. 

better.    He  had  better  go.  (See  bad.  rather.) 
between,  among.     Between   two;    Among 

more  than  two. 
Between  you  and  I.    A  phrase  often  carelessly 

used  for  between  you  and  me.     (See  as.) 
bias.     To  cut  on  the  bias  is  sometimes  incor- 
rectly used  for  to  cut  bias. 


HANDBOOK   OF   BLUNDERS.  15 

bigamy.  The  crime  of  having  two  wives  or 
husbands  at  once  should  strictly  he  termed 
polygamy.  Bigamy  was  originally  applied  to  a 
second  marriage  after  the  death  of  one  partner. 

biscuit*  Often  incorrectly  used  for  rolls.  Bis- 
cuit are  hard,  and  we  commonly  call  them 
crackers. 

bison,  buffalo.  The  true  buffalo  belongs  to 
the  Eastern  continent.  Bison  are  shot  in  the 
Western  territories. 

blab*  Not  to  be  predicated  of  any  for  whom  we 
feel  affection  or  respect. 

black*  Negro  is  preferable  as  the  designation 
of  an  African. 

blame.    To  blame  it  on  me,  vulgar. 

blasted,  in  the  sense  of  cursed,  is  vulgar. 

blazes.    Like  blazes,  low  U.  S. 

bleed*    In  the  sense  of  to  extort  money,  low. 

blow.  Vulgar  in  nearly  all  of  its  metaphorical 
uses,  as  to  blow  out,  to  blow  upon,  to  blow  up, 
meaning  to  talk  abusively,  to  tell  about,  and  to 
scold. 


16  HANDBOOK    OF    BLUNDERS. 

blues.  The  blues  is  a  colloquial  expression  for 
low  spirits. 

bogus.    Not  elegant. 

bolt,  in  the  sense  of  suddenly  to  desert,  is  not 
good  English. 

boost.    Vulgar. 

boozy.    Slang  for  drunken. 

bosh.    Inelegant. 

boss,  n.    A  master.    Provincial. 

boss,  v.    To  superintend.    Low. 

brand-new,  not  bran-new. 

brass,  in  the  sense  of  effrontery,  slang.  So 
brassy. 

brat.    Happily  obsolescent. 

broken,  broke.  Although  broke,  as  the  past 
participle  of  break,  is  sanctioned  by  the  diction- 
aries, broken  is  now  preferred  by  careful  writers. 

breakdown,  a  riotous  dance.    Low. 

breeches,  not  proper  in  the  sense  of  trousers. 
It  is  a  different  garment. 

brickbat*  Often  erroneously  used  in  the  sense 
of  a  brick.  It  properly  means  a  piece  of  a  brick 
less  than  one  half  its  length. 


HANDBOOK    OF    BLUNDERS.  17 

brochure.  Often  improperly  used  by  young 
critics  of  any  little  book  like  this  one ;  properly 
used  of  a  small  pamphlet  consisting  of  a  few 
leaves  stitched  together. 

brothers,  brethren.  Brothers  by  blood. 
Brethren  in  a  society  or  in  solemn  style. 

brethren,  not  bretheren. 

bruin.    A  bear.    Colloquial. 

bruiser.    A  boxer.    Low. 

buckeye.    An  inhabitant  of  Ohio.   Cant,  U.S. 

buffalo-robe.  Incorrectly  used  for  several 
different  sorts  of  fur  robes. 

bug.  Carelessly  used  for  many  insects  that  are 
not  bugs ;  e.  g. ,  beetles. 

builded,  for  built,  antiquated. 

bull.    (See  bear.) 

bulrush,  not  bull-rush. 

bum,  bummer.    Low. 

bumble-bee,  humble-bee.  Either  is  cor- 
rect. 

buncombe,  bunkum.    Mere  talk.    Low. 

bunk.    U.  S.  or  nautical. 


18  HANDBOOK   OF   BLUNDERS. 

burden  of  a  song.  Often  erroneously  under- 
stood to  mean  the  sense  or  meaning  of  a  song. 
It  means  the  refrain  or  chorus. 

bureau,  pi.  bureaux.  The  use  of  the  word  in 
the  sense  of  a  chest  of  drawers  is  not  English. 

burglarize.    Not  authorized. 

burst,  not  hursted. 

bus.    Omnibus,  not  bus. 

bushwhacking.    U.  S. 

buster.    Vulgar. 

but,  however,  still.  But  marks  opposition 
with  a  medium  degree  of  strength;  however  is 
the  weakest  of  the  three;  and  still  is  the 
strongest. 

by  and  by,  not  bye  and  bye. 

by  the  bye,  not  by  the  by. 


HANDBOOK   OF   BLUNDERS.  19 


c. 


cactus,  plural,  cactuses  or  cacti. 

cad.    An  abbreviation  of  cadet. 

cahoot*    Vulgar. 

calculate9  in  the  sense  of  intend  or  purpose,  is 
not  correct. 

calisthenics,  gymnastics.  Calisthenics  is 
the  proper  word  for  light  exercises,  such  as  are 
adapted  for  women.  (See  acoustics.) 

can  but,  cannot  but.  I  can  but  means  1 
can  only;  e.  g.,  I  can  but  perish  if  I  go  means 
that  that  is  the  worst  that  can  happen. 
I  cannot  but  means  I  have  no  choice  but,  etc., 
or,  /  must;  e.  g.  I  cannot  but  speak  means  I 
cannot  refrain  from  speaking.  To  use  can 
but  in  this  sense  would  be  a  gross  error. 

cannot,  or  can  not. 

caption,  in  the  sense  of  the  heading  of  a  page 
etc. ,  is  avoided  by  careful  writers. 

carpenter,  joiner.  The  joiner  begins  where 
the  carpenter  leaves  off. 


20  HANDBOOK    OF    BLUNDERS. 

carry  on,  in  the  sense  of  to  frolic,  colloquial. 

case*    A  hard  case,  a  bad  case,  etc.,  in  the  sense 
of  a  bad  character,  low. 

casket*    Coffin  is  preferable  if  coffin  is  meant. 

catholic.    Roman  is  more  exact  if  the  Church 
of  Rome  is  meant. 

celebrity,  in  the  sense  of  a  person  of  note,  is 
questionable. 

centre,  middle.    A  centre  is  a  point.     The 
middle  may  be  a  lino. 

Certain,  sure.  Certain  refers  to  absolute 
knowledge.  Sure,  to  such  a  degree  of  con- 
viction as  removes  all  anxiety.  I  am  certain 
that  I  exist.  I  am  sure  that  the  sun  will  rise 
tomorrow. 
lhaff ,  in  the  sense  of  ridicule,  is  colloquial. 

jhallenge,  to  object  to  a  vote.     U.  S. 

chance,  in  the  sense  of  to  risk,  has  no  valid 
authority;  e.  g.,  I9 II  chance  it. 

.chap.    A  man  or  boy.     Low. 

chatterbox.    Colloquial. 

chaw,  for  che.w,  very  vulgar. 


HANDBOOK    OF    BLUNDERS.  21 

cherub,  pi.  cherubs  or  cherubim,  not  cher- 
ubims. 

chestnut,  not  chesnut. 

» 

cliew,  as  a  noun,  is  low. 

choker,  a  collar.    Vulgar. 

chores,  light  work  about  the  house.       U.  S. 

chorister,  a  singer  in  a  concert  or  choir;  in  U. 
S.  the  leader  of  a  choir. 

chosen,  chose.  As  the  past  participle  of 
choose,  chosen  is  preferable. 

chrysalis,  chrysalid.  As  the  plural,  chrysa- 
lides, is  somewhat  tedious,  it  may  be  avoided  by 
using  the  plural  of  chrysalid,  chrysalids. 

chuck,  to  pitch,  vulgar. 

chuck-full.  There  is  no  such  word;  if  you 
must  have  it,  use  chock  or  choke  full. 

chum.    The  verb  is  not  English. 

chunk,  chunky,  colloquial  or  provincial. 

church,  as  a  verb  meaning  to  discipline  by  a 
vote  of  censure,  etc.,  is  not  authorized. 

classics.    Classics  are,  not  is.     (This  word  not 


22  HANDBOOK    OF   BLUNDERS. 

being  the  name  of  a  science,  but  a  legitimate, 
plural,  does  not  follow  the  analogy  of  acous- 
tics, etc.) 

clear  out,  in  the  sense  of  depart,  colloquial. 

Cleft,  better  than  cleaved  or  clove,  as  imperfect 
of  cleave,  to  split. 

clerk*  As  there  is  no  verb  to  clerk,  the  expres- 
sions clerking  it,  he  clerks  for  Mr.  B,  etc.,  are 
incorrect. 

clever  does  not  mean  good-natured  in  Eng- 
land. 

clip,  a  blow.    Colloquial,  U.  S. 

clomb  and  climb,  as  imperfect  of  climb,  obso- 
lete or  vulgar. 

clumsy.    ( See  awkward. ) 

coach,  to  prepare  for  examination.    Cant. 

coat-card,  not  court-card. 

come,  in  the  sense  of  become,  obsolete. 

comfort,  comfortable,  comforter.  In 
the  sense  of  a  wadded  quilt,  these  are  all  Ameri- 
can. The  last  two  are  objectionable. 


HANDBOOK    OP   BLUNDERS.  23 

comfortable,  in  the  sense  of  free  from  pain, 
used  of  a  sick  person,  is  also  American. 

commence.  In  the  usage  of  good  writers,  com- 
mence is  never  followed  by  the  infinitive. — G. 
P.  Marsh. 

We  begin  to  write ;  we  begin  or  commence  writ- 
ing.    (See  begin.) 

committee-man.    Unauthorized. 

commonwealth.  Sometimes  improperly  used 
of  an  absolute  government. 

compare  witn,  compare  to.  Things  are 
compared  with  each  other  in  order  to  learn 
their  relative  excellence.  Things  are  com- 
pared to  each  other  in  order  to  show  the  re- 
semblance between  them,  usually  for  the  sake 
of  illustration;  e.g.,  "Let  us  compare  Wash- 
ington with  Lafayette."  "Burke  compares 
the  parks  of  London  to  the  lungs  of  the 
human  body." 

concern,  in  the  sense  of  thing,  provincial  and 
low,  e.  g.,  "  Take  your  wagon,  I  don't  wish  the 
old  concern." 


24  HANDBOOK    OF   BLUNDERS. 

conduct.  As  an  intransitive  verb  meaning  to 
behave,  this  word  is  best  avoided. 

confounded,  in  the  sense  of  abominable)  collo- 
quial. 

connection.  Better  than  connexion.  So  in- 
flection, etc. 

conquer,  subdue.  Subdue  implies  a  more 
gradual  and  continued  pressure,  but  a  surer  and 
more  final  subjection. 

conscience.    In  all  conscience,  colloquial. 

considerable.  Often  carelessly  used  instead 
of  considerably;  e.g.,  "Is  he  better?"  "Yes, 
considerable." 

conversable,  conversible.  The  former 
means  disposed  to  talk ;  the  latter,  capable  of 
being  reversed. 

cook  up,  in  the  sense  of  to  tamper  with  or  alter, 
is  colloquial. 

corporal,  not  corporeal  punishment. 

correspond  with,  correspond  to.  The 
former  refers  to  the  interchange  of  letters;  the 
latter  denotes  agreement;  e.g.,  "I  correspond 


HANDBOOK    OF    BLUNDERS.  25 

with  a  friend."     "  The  event  corresponds  to  the 

prediction." 
cosey,  cosy,  cozy.    The  last  is  the  best.    So 

cozily,  etc. 

cotemporary.    Not  so  good  as  contemporary. 
couple*    Two  united  things  of  the  same  nature, 

as  a  couple  of  cars.   Two  (not  a  couple  of)  dollars. 
course*    In  course  means  in  regular  succession. 

Of  course  means  as  a  natural  result.    The  two 

are  sometimes  confounded. 
covetous,  not  covetious. 
crack,  as  an  adjective,  is  colloquial;  e.g.,  "A 

crack  shot." 

crack  up,  in  the  sense  of  extol,  low. 
crank*    A  half-witted  person,  or  monomaniac. 

Colloquial. 
Creole.     This  word  implies  no  admixture  of 

African  blood. 
crucifix.    Sometimes  incorrectly  used  of  a  cross 

alone. 

cud,  for  quid,  low. 
cut,  in  the  sense  of  to  run,  low. 


26  HANDBOOK   OF   BLUNDERS. 

D. 

daily,  as  a  noun  in  the  sense  of  daily  paper, 
colloquial,  American. 

damned,  damnable,  in  the  sense  of  hateful, 
low. 

dander,  meaning  anger,  low. 

dangerous.    Dangerously  ill,  not  dangerous. 

date*  Properly  the  time  at  which  any  event 
occurs.  In  letter-writing  carelessly  used  for  the 
entire  heading,  including  place  of  writing. 

deal.  Great  deal,  not  good  deal.  The  expres- 
sion is  inelegant  at  the  best  in  the  sense  of 
muck. 

debut.    Forbidden  by  Bryant. 

decease.  The  deceased  is  an  expression  to  be 
avoided. 

decorum,  dignity.  Decorum  is  what  is  be- 
coming in  outward  appearance ;  dignity  springs 
from  inward  elevation  of  soul. 

defense,  better  than  defence  (so  offense,  etc.). 

demise.    For  ordinary  mortals,  death  is  better. 


HANDBOOK    OF    BLUNDERS.  27 

depone,  as  a  transitive  verb,  meaning  to  assert 
under  oath,  is  rarely  used  by  good  English 
writers. 

depot.  Station  is  strictly  more  accurate  for  a 
building  for  the  accommodation  of  passengers. 

deuce*    The  devil,  low;  so  deuced. 

diagram.    There  is  no  verb  to  diagram. 

dialectics.    (See  acoustics.) 

dicker.    Obsolete  or  provincial. 

diction,  style.  Style  refers  both  to  thought 
and  language;  diction,  to  words  only. 

die,  plural  dice,  cubes  used  in  gaming;  dies,  in- 
struments for  stamping. 

differ  witn,  differ  from.  I  differ  with  you 
in  opinion;  I  differ  from  you  in  appearance. 

different  from,  not  to. 

diligence,  industry.  Industry  is  habitual 
diligence. 

dip,  for  baptize  or  immerse,  colloquial  or  con- 
temptuous. 

directly,  in  the  sense  of  as  soon  as,  is  avoided 
by  careful  writers;  e.g.,  "I  will  come  directly 
I  have  written  the  letter." 


28  HANDBOOK   OF    BLUNDERS. 

dirt.    It  is  a  mistake  to  speak  of  earth  or  soil  as 

dirt  or  dirty,  while  it  is  in  its  proper  place;  e.  g., 

"  The  children  were  digging  in  the  earth,"  not 

necessarily  "  dirt." 
disapprove.    The  sentence  was  disapproved; 

better  than  disapproved  of. 
dispatch,  etc.    Not  despatch,  etc. 
disremember.    Obsolete  or  local. 
divers,  in  the  sense  of  diverse,  is  obsolete. 
does  n't,  don't.     "  He,  she,  or  it  does  not,  or 

doesn't,"  not  "don't."    Don't  is  a  contraction 

of  do  not ;  doesn't  of  does  not. 
donate.    Avoided  by  careful  writers. 
donation-party.     A  colloquial  name  for  a 

method  of  eking  out  a  clergyman's  salary  under 

the  guise  of  charity. 
done*    He  did  it,  not  he  done  it. 
done  for,  in  the  sense  of  ruined,  is  colloquial 

and  low. 

doughty.    Obsolescent. 
down  in  the  mouth.    Low. 
downs.    "  Ups  and  downs."    Colloquial. 


HANDBOOK    OF    BLUNDERS.  29 

downward.    ( See  backward. ) 

drank.     Preferable  to  drunk  as  imperfect  of 

drink. 

draw,  for  drawbridge,  American. 
drowned,  not  drownded. 
dry.    Thirsty  is  better  if  thirsty  is  meant, 
dumps.    Inelegant. 
dynamics.    (See  acoustics.) 

£. 

each.  Let  each  man  do  his  (not  their)  own 
work.  (See  agreement.) 

eager,  earnest.  Eager  implies  excitement. 
Earnest  is  always  used  in  a  good  sense,  and  im- 
plies a  permanent  condition  of  mind. 

earth,  world.  The  Earth  is  one  of  many 
worlds. 

eat.    (See  ate.) 

economics.    (See  acoustics.) 

education,  instruction.  Education  trains 
the  mind  and  forms  the  heart.  Instruction 
furnishes  the  mind  with  knowledge. 


30  HANDBOOK   OF    BLUNDERS. 

egoism,  egotism.  The  former  is  preferred 
by  George  Eliot. 

either*    Properly  used  of  two  things. 

elastic*  There  is  no  noun  elastic;  no  such 
thing  as  an  elastic. 

elder,  older*  He  is  the  elder  brother,  better 
than  older.  Elder  refers  to  priority  of  birth, 
without  calling  special  attention  to  the  per- 
son's age. 

elegant*  This  word  should  not  be  carelessly 
used.  It  is  a  choice  word  and  will  not  bear 
constant  handling. 

ambassador.  Preferred  to  ambassador  by 
Webster,  from  the  analogy  of  embassy. 

employe.  Preferred  to  employee,  which  is  legi- 
timate. Workman  is  usually  best. 

enclose.  Inclose  is  better;  e.g.,  Inclosed  please 
find. 

endorse*  Indorse  is  better.  So  indorsement, 
etc. 

engineer,  a. ,  in  the  sense  of  an  artful  manager, 
is  not  authorized  by  its  derivation. 


HANDBOOK   OF   BLUNDERS.  31 

6.,  as  a  verb  in  the  sense  of  to  contrive,  as  to 

engineer  a  bill  through  Congress,  colloquial. 
enthuse,  enthused.    Vulgar. 
epithet.     The  term  epithet  is  now  correctly 
used  only  of  adjectives.     Liar  and  rascal  are 
not  epithets,  but  appellations. 
equivocal,  ambiguous.    An  equivocal  ex- 
pression is  made  to  have  two  possible  meanings, 
with  the  intention  of  deceiving.     An  ambiguous 
expression  is  one  whose  meaning  is,  perhaps  un- 
intentionally, uncertain. 
ethics.    (See  acoustics.) 
evaporate,  vaporize.    When  artificial  heat 
is  employed,  and  the  process  is  rapid,  vaporize 
is  more  properly  used. 
eventuate.    Not  in  good  use. 
execute.    The  law,  not  the  criminal,  is  exe- 
cuted. 

every.    Always  singular.     Let  every  man  do 
his    (not   their)    own   work.       (See   agree- 
ment.) 
example,  instance.    An  example  illustrates 


32  HAND    BOOK  OF   BLUNDERS. 

a  general  rule.  An  instance  stands  by  itself, 
and  does  not  pove  a  rule. 

extra,  either  as  a  noun  or  adjective,  is  colloquial 
at  the  best,  and,  as  an  adverb,  is  inexcusable. 
Careful  writers,  therefore,  avoid  such  expres- 
sions as  "there  were  many  extras,"  "they  re- 
ceived extra  pay,"  "she  sang  extra  well." 

F. 

fall,  in  the  sense  of  to  fell,  not  in  good  use;  e.g., 
To  fall  a  tree. 

farther,  further.    Farther  away  from,  fur- 
o 

ther  on  toward.  As  he  advanced  further  on 
his  way,  he  realized  that  he  was  getting  farther 
from  home.  ( See  advance. ) 

fast.    In  the  sense  of  dissipated,  recent. 

fear,  terror.  Fear  is  generic.  Terror  is  vis- 
ible agitation. 

feet.  It  is  incorrect  to  use  the  word  foot  in  the 
sense  of  feet,  except  in  such  compound  adjec- 
tives as  two-foot ;  e.g.,  a  two-foot  rule.  So  of 
all  units  of  measure. 


HANDBOOK    OF    BLUNDEES.  33 

female.    Low,  in  the  sense  of  ivoman. 
ferocious,  savage.    Ferocious  is  opposed  to 

gentle  ;  savage  to  civilized. 
few.    Say  "Few  are,"  not  " There  are  a  few 

who  are."    So  in  all  similar  propositions. 
fire.    Nothing  can  be  fired  without  fire.     Not 

fire  a  rock,  but  throw  a  stone. — E.  G.  White. 
first.    First  two,  etc.,  not  two  first.    Only  one 

can  be  first. 

firstly.    Improperly  used  for  first.— Webster. 
first-rate.    Inelegant. 
fish,  pi.,  fishes j  individuals;  fish,  collection. 

NOTE.  —  The  names  of  several  sorts  of  fish,  as 
herring,  shad,  trout,  etc.,  are  used  in  the  same 
way.      Compounds  of  fish,  as  codfish,  have 
the  same  form  in  both  numbers. 
follow,  not  follow  after. 

force,  strength.    Force  is  strength  in  action. 
forest,  wood.    Forest  is  the  more  extensive. 
v    forgive,  pardon.      Small  offences  are  for- 
given;   serious    crimes  pardoned.      Kindness 

forgives  ;    mercy  pardons. 


34  HANDBOOK   OF   BLUNDERS. 

forsaken,  forlorn.    Forlorn  is  the  intensive 

of  forsaken,  and  is  used  only  of  persons. 
frail,  brittle.    What  is  frail  is  liable  to  be 

broken.    What  is  brittle  is  liable  to  be  shivered. 
free  to  confess,  etc.     Vulgar.— G.  H.  Cal- 

vert. 
\  freedom,  liberty.    Liberty  implies  previous 

restraint ;  freedom  does  not. 
frozen.    Is  or  has  frozen,  not  froze. 

G. 

\general,  universal.  A  general  rule  has  ex- 
ceptions. A  universal  rule  has  none. 

genius,  pi.  geniuses,  men  of  genius;  genii, 
spirits. 

gents.    Offensively  vulgar. 

get.  Do  not  say  to  get  beaten,  killed,  cured, 
etc.,  but  to  be  beaten,  etc.  Get  is  properly  used 
with  a  following  adjective  or  preposition;  e.g., 
To  get  well,  to  get  on. 

graduate.  Students  do  not  graduate,  but  are 
graduated  by  their  teachers. 


HANDBOOK    OF    BLUNDERS.  35 

Grecian,  Greek.  An  imitation  of  what  is 
Greek  is  Grecian.  A  Greek  temple  is  a  temple 
in  Greece.  A  Grecian  temple  is  one  built  upon 
the  model  of  a  Greek  temple. 

guess  should  not  be  used  in  the  sense  of  think 
or  believe. 

gums .    ( See  rubbers* ) 

H. 

bad  I  been,  not  had  I  have  been. 

bad  ought.  Vulgar;  say  "I  ought  not,  ought 
I  ?  "  not  "  I  ought  not,  had  I  ?  " 

bad  ratber,  bad  better,  etc.  Good  Eng- 
lish despite  the  critics.  ( See  would  ratber. ) 

bandsome,  pretty.  What  is  handsome  is 
striking  and  noble.  What  is  pretty  is  small, 
regular,  graceful,  and  delicate.  Elms  are  hand- 
some, violets  pretty. 

bardly.  Not  hardly,  in  the  sense  of  scarcely, 
is  incorrect.  Omit  the  not. 

baste,  burry.  Both  denote  rapidity,  but 
hurry  implies  confusion. 


36  HANDBOOK    OF    BLUNDERS. 

v  Jiatred,  odium.  Hatred  is  active;  odium 
passive. 

have.  I  wished,  or  I  had  wished  to  go,  not  I 
wished  or  had  wished  to  have  gone.  (The  per- 
fect infinitive  should  not  follow  the  imperfect 
tense,  except  in  the  case  of  such  auxiliaries  as 
oughty  might,  could,  etc. 

have*  I  have  it,  not  I  have  got  it,  except  in  the 
sense  of  I  have  obtained  it. 

iiave.    I  have  none,  not  have  n't  none. 

have*  Neither  you  nor  I  have,  not  has.  Neither 
of  them  has,  not  have. 

Iiave  not,  or  fcaven't,  not  haint.  (So  has 
not  or  hasn't.) 

he.  I  knew  it  was  he,  not  him.  I  knew  it  to  be 
him,  not  he.  The  man  said,  not  the  man  he 
said.  (So  with  all  pronouns.) 

hear,  listen.  We  hear  involuntarily.  We 
listen  that  we  may  hear. 

heavenly,  celestial.    Celestial  refers  to  the 

•^ 

physical  heavens;  heavenly  to  the  moral. 

hence,  better  than  from  hence. 


HANDBOOK    OP   BLUNDEKS.  37 

here.  Strictly,  come  hither  should  be  used  in- 
stead of  come  here.  So  after  all  verbs  of 
motion .  ( See  thither. ) 

hers,  not  her's.  The  apostrophe  is  never  cor- 
rectly used  with  pronouns  to  denote  possession. 

high,  tall.  That  which  attains  height  by 
x  growth  is  tall.  The  reverse  of  high  is  low,  of 
tall  is  stunted. 

highfalutin.  A  vulgarism  unaccountably 
sanctioned  by  the  "Verbalist." 

his.  A  child  is  known  by  his  (or  by  his  or  her; 
not  by  their)  doings.  Every  one  should  do  his 
own  (not  their  own)  work. 

home,  not  to  home,  after  verbs  of  motion. 

hour,  not  hour's  time. 

humbug.    Not  used  by  careful  writers. 

hundred,  pi.  hundred  with  numerals,  as  two 
hundred,  in  other  cases  hundreds;  as  several 
hundreds.  (So  with  thousand,  etc.) 


38  HANDBOOK    OF   BLUNDERS. 

I. 

I.    It  is  I,  not  It  is  me. 

idea*  This  word  should  not  be  used  in  the  sense 
of  opinion  or  view. 

idle,  indolent.  The  idle  do  not  do  their  duty. 
The  indolent  do  nothing.  Idleness  is  opposed 
to  diligence;  indolence  to  activity. 

if  I  were,  if  I  was,  if  I  am,  if  I  be,  etc. 
The  subjunctive  forms  be,  were,  etc.,  are  more 
elegant  when  the  condition  is  not  regarded  as  an 
actual  fact. 

if  or  not.  Whether  or  not  is  preferable  in  such 
expressions  as  "I  do  not  know  whether  I  shall 
go  or  not."  So  in  all  indirect  questions. 

illy.    Not  in  good  use. 

inaugurate.    Should  not  be  used  in  the  sense 

of  begin. 

.  index,  pi.     Indexes,  tables  of  references;   in- 
dices, signs. 

indorse.  Should  not  be  used  in  the  sense  of 
sanction  or  approve. 


HANDBOOK   OF   BLim.£?EKS.  39 

infinitive,  to.  Never  separate  to  from  the 
infinitive  with  which  it  belongs;  say  greatly 
to  desire,  or  to  desire  greatly,  not  to  greatly 
desire. 

is  not.  It  is  not,  or  it  isn't,  or,  in  poetry,  'tis 
not;  not  'tis  n't,  nor  it  aint,  nor  'taint.  It  is 
not  true  I  think,  not  I  don't  think. 

item.  Should  not  be  used  in  the  sense  of  article, 
extract,  or  paragraph. 

Its,  not  it's,  in  possessive  case.    (See  ners.) 


J. 

jail.    There  is  no  verb  to  jail. 

jaw,  used  as  a  verb,  is  low. 

jibe,  in  the  sense  of  agree  or  harmonize,  is  low. 
— Bartlett. 

jiggamaree.    Colloquial  and  low.—  Halliwell. 

joiner,  carpenter.  The  carpenter  frames 
and  puts  together  roofs,  partitions,  floors,  and 
other  essential  parts  of  the  building.  The 


40  HANDBOOK   OF    BLTJNDEKS. 

joiner  commences  where  the  carpenter  leaves 
off,  by  supplying  and  fitting  stairs,  cupboards, 
etc. — Tomlinson. 

jug,  for  imprison,  colloquial  and  low. 

just.  Incorrect  if  used  in  the  sense  of  now,  as  I 
havejwsi  come  in;  and  liable  to  excessive  use  in 
its  proper  meaning  of  precisely  or  exactly. 

juvenile.    Should  never  be  used  as  a  noun. 


K. 

keel,  in  the  sense  of  to  turn  over,  is  vulgar  un- 
less applied  to  vessels. 

keep  company,  in  the  sense  of  to  give  or 
receive  attention  with  a  view  to  marriage,  is 
a  colloquial  Americanism. 

kerosene,  not  kerosene  oil. 

kick  the  bucket.    Colloquial  and  low. 

kid,  for  child,  low. 

kids,  for  kid  gloves,  vulgar. 

kidney,  in  the  sense  of  kind  or  sort,  is  collo- 
quial. "  Fools  of  that  kidney."  —Burns. 


HANDBOOK    OF   BLUNDERS.  41 

NOTE.  —  This  use  of  the  word  is  probably  an 
imitation  and  misapprehension  of  Shake- 
peare's  use  of  it  in  the  following  passage: 
"  Think  of  that,  a  man  of  my  kidney.79  But 
Falstaff  s  meaning  is  a  man  whose  kidneys  are 
as  fat  as  mine,  a  man  as  fat  as  myself,  not  a 
maa  of  my  character,  qualities,  or  humor. — 
Websttr. 
kill,  for  kiln.  Obsolete  or  provincial  English, 

and  U.  S. 

kind  of,  in  ihe  sense  of  rather,  partly,  or  as  it 
were,  is  incorrect;  e.g.,  He  kind  of  threw  up  his 
hands.    He  was  kind  of  sick.    (See  sort  of.) 
kitn.    Obsolete. 

knock  up,  in  the  sense  of  fatigue,  or  exhaust,  is 
to  be  avoided. 

L. 

lady,  inelegant  in  the  sense  of  wife,  and  in  gen- 
eral inferior  to  woman. 

last*  Carelessly  used  in  the  sense  of  latest,  as 
"Your  last  letter  has  been  received."  Last 


42  HANDBOOK   OF   BLUNDERS. 

two,  etc.,  not  two  last.  So  with  all  superla- 
tives. 

lay*  I  lay  me  down,  not  I  lie  me  down.  I  lie 
down,  not  I  lay  down.  I  lay  down,  not  I  laid 
down.  I  have  lain  down,  not  I  have  laid  down. 
I  have  laid  it  down,  not  I  have  lain  it  down. 
(Lie,  lay,  lain,  is  intransitive;  layt  laid,  laid, 
is  transitive. 

lease  means  to  let  to  another,  but  is  sometimes 
carelessly  used  in  the  sense  of  to  hire  from  an- 
other. Rent  has  both  meanings. 

least.  At  least  is  often  carelessly  used  where  at 
the  most  is  meant;  e.g.,  lean  buy  it  for  a  hun- 
dred dollars  at  least. 

leniency,  not  so  good  as  lenity. 

like,  love.  Like,  to  be  fond  of;  love,  to  feel 
affection  for. 

list,  catalogue.  A  catalogue  is  a  systematic 
list. 

loafer.    Inelegant. 

loan.    Not  so  good  as  lend. 

locate.   Questionable. 


HANDBOOK   OF    BLUNDERS.  43 

lot,  in  the  sense  of  many,  incorrect;  e.g.,  a  lot  of 


lunch.    Inelegant  as  a  noun.    Use  luncheon. 

M. 

ma'am.    An  inelegant  contraction  for  madam. 

malignant,  malicious.  Malignant  is  pos- 
sessing malice.  Malicious  is  exerting  it.  Mali- 
cious seldom  qualifies  things. 

mathematics.    (See  acoustics.) 

measles.    Always  plural. 

metaphors.  Too  great  care  cannot  be  taken 
to  avoid  mixed  metaphors. 

mighty.  Vulgarly  used  for  very  or  exceedingly. 

million.    (See  hundred.) 

Mrs.  President,  Mrs.  Governor,  etc. 
Forbidden  by  Bryant. 

mussulman,  pi.  mussulmans,  not  mtissulmen. 
So  talismans. 

mute,  dumb.  Dumb  denies  the  power  of 
speech.  Mute  denies  the  act  of  speech. 

mutual.    Not  well  used  instead  of  common. 


44  HANDBOOK   OF   BLUNDERS. 

N. 

near,  nearly.    Near  should  not  be  used  as  an 

adverb  in  the  sense  of  nearly. 
need,  necessity.    Need  is  exigent  and  press- 
ing.   Necessity  is  stern  and  unyielding. 
need  nave,  not  need  to  have,  etc. 
neglect,  negligence.     Neglect  is  an  act; 

negligence  a  habit. 
negro,  not  darkey. 
neither,   nor,   not   neither,    or.      "He    was 

neither  rich  nor  poor,"   not  uHe  neither  was 

rich  nor  poor."     Neither  is  used  of  two,  not 

more. 

new,  novel.    Novel  is  new  and  strange. 
news,  tidings.    Tidings  means  news  in  which 

we  are  specially  interested.     News  is,  not  news 

are. 
no.    "He  is  no  better  I  think,"  not  "I  don't 

think." 
none.     None  is  or  none  are.     None  (i.  e.  no 

one)  is  strictly  singular,  but  has  also  a  collective 

sense  even  among  good  writers. 


HANDBOOK    OF    BLUNDERS.  45 

not*  Not  so  great  as,  rather  than  as  great  as. 
So  always  after  negatives. 

not,  or;  not,  nor.  He  does  not  love  his 
father  or  his  mother.  (The  negative  not  is  felt 
throughout  the  sentence,  and  need  not  be  re- 
peated by  nor.  He  was  not  well  nor  was  he 
sick.  The  force  of  not  is  expended  in  the  first 
clause. — Reed  &  Kellogg. 


O. 

O,  on.  Used  quite  indiscriminately  by  best 
writers,  with  a  tendency  to  prefer  the  former. 

off,  not  off  of,  nor  off  from. 

official.    Should  not  be  used  for  officer. 

once.    At  once,  not  to  once. 

only.  Carefully  place  this  and  other  adverbs 
near  the  word  or  phrase  to  be  qualified. 

optics.    (See  acoustics.) 

or,  and.  Man  and  woman  are ;  man  or  woman 
is.  When  the  subject  conveys  the  thought  of 
plurality,  the  verb  is  in  the  plural  form. 


46  HANDBOOK    OF    BLUNDERS. 

o tliers.  Best  of  all,  or  better  than  all  others, 
not  best  of  all  others.  One  thing  cannot  be  an- 
other thing,  nor  one  of  the  others,  therefore  not 
the  best  of  the  others.  So  with  all  superlatives. 

otherwise  than,  not  otherwise  but,  nor  other- 
wise besides. 

ought,  never  had  ought. 

ought  not,  not  had  n't  ought. 

ours,  not  our's. 

over  his  signature.  An  unwarrantable 
innovation  for  the  well-established  idiom  under 
his  signature.  [See  Webster's  Dictionary.] 

overflowed,  not  overflown. 


P. 

pair,  pi.  pair  with  numerals,  as  six  pair ;  in 

other  cases,  pairs,  as  many  pairs. 
pants.    Vulgar  for  pantaloons. 
partially.    Incorrectly  used  for  partly.— B.  G. 

White. 
party.    Incorrectly  used  for  person. 


HANDBOOK   OF   BLUNDERS.  47 

passive.    (See  being.) 

past  two  weeks,  etc.,  better  last  two,  etc.— 
Bryant. 

penny,  pi.  pennies,  distinct  coins;  pence,  quan- 
tity in  value. 

'  persuasion,  conviction.  Persuasion  affects 
the  feelings  and  imagination.  Conviction  affects 
the  reason. 

physics.    ( See  acoustics. ) 

piece,  for  article,  forbidden  by  Bryant. 

pillar,  column.     Columns  are  round. 

pleasure,  happiness.  Pleasure  is  tempo- 
rary; happiness  a  continued  state.  Pleasure 
comes  through  the  senses;  happiness  is  an  in- 
ward feeling. 

plenty,  abundance.  Plenty  is  as  much  as 
we  need.  Abundance  is  more  than  we  require. 

poetess.    Poet  is  better  for  both  sexes. 

politics.    (See  acoustics.) 

portion.    Part  is  simpler  and  better. 

possess.  "He  possesses"  better  than  "He  is 
possessed  of." 


48  HANDBOOK   OF   BLUNDERS. 

possessive  case.  Write  an  apostrophe  after 
the  name  of  the  possessor  or  possessors  in  the 
possessive  case,  and  add  an  s  if  necessary. 

posted,  inelegant  for  informed. 

posture,  attitude.  An  attitude  is  a  posture 
which  expresses  some  emotion. 

preposition.  Rarely  close  a  sentence  with  a 
preposition. 

prepositions.  Do  not  use  prepositions  need- 
lessly; say  off,  not  off  of ;  where  have  you  been? 
not  where  have  you  been  to  ?  etc. 

present.  "Present  a  gift  to  one"  better  than 
"  present  one  with  a  gif t."  A  gift  is  presented 
to  one;  one  is  not  presented  with  a  gift. 
*  prevalent,  prevailing.  What  usually  pre- 
vails is  prevalent ;  what  actually  prevails  is 
prevailing.  There  are  many  pairs  of  adjectives 
in  English,  the  one  preserving  the  Latin,  and 
the  other  the  Saxon  participial  ending,  such  as 
consistent,  consisting ;  different,  differing,  etc. 
The  Latin  form  qualifies  as  to  generals,  and  the 
Saxon  as  to  particulars. 


HANDBOOK    OF   BLUNDERS.  49 

preventive,  not  preventative. 

progress*    Not  so  good  as  advance. — Bryant. 

prudence,  discretion.     Prudence  is  fore 

sight;  discretion,  present  wisdom. 


Q. 

quaker.    Friend  is  more  elegant. 

quit,  leave.  To  say  that  a  man  has  left  a 
place  signifies  nothing  as  to  his  returning;  but 
to  say  that  he  has  quit  the  town  is  to  say  that 
this  was  considered,  at  the  time,  to  be  a  final 
act. 

R. 

raid.    Not  to  be  used  in  the  sense  of  attack. 
raise,  rear.    Human  beings  are  reared,  lower 

animals  are  raised. 

realize.    Not  good  in  the  sense  of  obtain. 
.  rebuke,  reproof.    A  rebuke  is  prompted  by 

indignation ;  a  reproof  by  a  desire  to  cure  one  of 

a  fault. 


V 


50  HANDBOOK   OF    BLUNDERS. 

recollect,  not  recollect  of. 

recovery,  restoration.    The  former  is  our 

own  act,  the  latter  that  of  another. 
relation*    Inelegant  if  used  for  relative. 
reliable*    The  propriety  of  this  word  has  been 

questioned,  but  it  will  probably  outlive  its  ene- 
mies. 
remember,  recollect.     To  recollect  is  to 

remember  with  some  exertion. 
rendition.    Incorrect  for  performance. 
repudiate.    Not  so  good  as  disown. 
retire.    He  has,  not  is  retired. 
retire.    Better  go  to  bed.  —  Bryant.    It  should 

not  be  used  as  a  transitive  verb. 
ridicule,  deride.    Derision  is  more  malicious 

than  ridicule. 

riot,  tumult.    A  tumult  is  a  general  riot. 
rivulet,  not  little  rivulet.    So  all  diminutives. 
/robber,  thief .    A  robber  uses  violence ;  a  thief, 

guile. 

role.    Not  good  in  the  sense  of  part. 
rose.    He  rose  up,  not  he  raised  up. 


HANDBOOK    OF    BLUNDERS.  51 

roughs,   rowdies.       Inelegant,    and   to   be 

avoided. 
round.      More   and   most   nearly   round,    not 

rounder  and  roundest. 
rubbers,  for  overshoes,  U.  S. 


S. 

scaly,  in  the  sense  of  mean,  etc.,  vulgar. 

set  (=  to  sink).     The  sun  sets,  not  sits. 

set.    I  set  anything  down,  not  I  sit  it  down. 
Past.  I  set  it  down,  not  I  sat  it  down. 

shall,  will.  I.  If  you  wish  to  express  your 
opinion  merely  with  regard  to  a  future  occur- 
rence, say  I,  or  we,  shall ;  others  will.  Ex.,  I 
shall  not  want;  The  Lord  will  provide.  [Exc., 
If  you  desire  to  make  the  prediction  more 
vivid,  use  shall  for  others  as  well  as  yourself; 
e.g.,  Yes,  my  son,  you  shall  often  see  the  rich- 
est men  the  meanest. — Tattler.] 
II.  To  express  your  will,  whether  in  the  form 
of  (a)  a  determination,  (&)  a  promise,  or  (c)  a 


52  HANDBOOK    OF    BLUNDERS. 

command;  say  I,  or  we,  will,  others  shall. 
Ex.,  (a)  The  cause  is  in  my  will;  I  will  not 
come.  [N.  B.  To  express  the  determination 
of  others,  use  will  ;  They  will  persist.]  (&)  I 
will  never  leave  thee;  thy  brother  shall  rise 
again,  (c)  Thou  shalt  not  steal.  [N.  B.  To 
express  a  softened  command,  you  will  may  be 
used;  e.  g.,  You  will  learn  the  next  lesson 
to-morrow.] 

III.  In  reporting  the  words  or  thoughts  of 
others,  use  shall  if  they  said  or  thought  shall  ; 
and  will  if  they  said  or  thought  will.  Ex.  Go 
tell  them  Caesar  will  not  come.  He  thinks 
that  he  shall  find  it.  (His  direct  thought  is 


IV.  In  asking  a  question  in  the  first  person,  use 
shall.    Ex.  Shall  I  do  it  ?  Shall  we  succeed  ? 

V.  In  asking  a  question  in  the  second  or  third 
person,   use  shall  if  the  question   is   to   be 
answered  by  shall,  but  will  if  the  question  is 
to  be  answered  by  will.    Ex.  Will  you  go? 
ANS.  I  will.    Shall  he  go  ?  ANS.  He  shall. 


HANDBOOK   OF    BLUNDERS.  53 

shot,  pi.  shots  =  discharges;  shot  =  balls. 
should,  would.     I.    If  you  wish  to  express 
duty,  say  in  all  cases,  should.     Ex.  I  should 
love  my  neighbor;  you  should  not  do  it;  he 
should  learn  better. 

II.  To  express  habitual  past  action,  would  may 
be  used.  Ex.  She  would  sit  for  hours  with- 
out lifting  her  eyes.  As  a  guide  in  other 
cases  remember  that  should  is  the  past  tense 
of  shall,  and  would  of  will.  (See  shall.) 
,v  silent,  taciturn.  Taciturnity  is  intentional 

or  habitual  silence. 
similar.     Similar  instances,  not  other  similar 

instances. 

sit.    I  sit  down.     Present.    The  hen  sits,  the 
coat  sits  well,  not  set,  sets.    Past.   I  sat  down, 
the  hen  sat,  the  coat  sat  well,  not  set. 
slake,  quench.      To  slake  is  to  lessen;   to 

quench  is  to  extinguish. 

slander,  calumny.  A  falsehood  originates 
with  a  calumniator ;  it  is  disseminated  by  a 
slanderer. 


54  HANDBOOK    OF    BLUNDERS. 

smart.    The  use  of  this  word  as  a  synonym  of 

clever  is  unknown  in  England. 
snout*    Excessively  vulgar  if  applied  to  human 

beings. 
so,  such.      So  long   journeys,  not  such  long 

journeys.     Such  is  not  an  adverb. 
some.    Say  slightly,  rather,  or  somewhat  better, 

not  some  better.     Some  is  not  an  adverb. 
sort  of,  in  such  expression  as  he  sort  of  frowned, 

inelegant,  if  not  incorrect. 
splendid.    Indolently  and  inaccurately  used  for 

beautiful,  grand,  and  many  other  words. 
stop,  stay.  When  anything  comes  to  a  stop,  the 

stopping  has  ceased.     Then  staying  may  begin. 

Ex.  Come  and  stay  with  me,  not  stop. 
store,  shop.    In  England  shop  is  used  almost 

exclusively,  but  in  America  store  is  likely  to 

prevail. 
streamlet,  not  little  streamlet.     So  with  all 

diminutives. 
such  after  some.    Some  such,  man,  not  some 

such  a  man.    So  no  such,  any  such,  etc. 


HANDBOOK   OF  BLUNDEES.  55 

sure,  certain.  We  are  certain  of  the  past  and 
present;  we  may  feel  sure,  but  cannot  be  certain 
of  the  future. 

T. 

taboo,  not  so  good  as  forbid  or  exclude. 
take.    Is,  or  has  taken,  not  is,  or  has  took. 
talented.    Forbidden  by  Bryant. 
tapis.     On  the  tapis  had  better  be  avoided. 
teach..    I  taught  him,  not  I  teached  him,  nor  I 

learned  him. 
temper,   humor.      Temper   is    fixed,   humor 

transient. 

temperance,  abstinence.     Abstinence  is 
i/ 

opposed  to  the  use  of  a  thing;   temperance  to 

its  abuse. 

ten-pound,  adj.  A  ten-pound  note,  not  a  ten- 
pounds  note. 

than.  As  than  is  a  conjunction,  use  the  same 
case  after  it  as  before  it.  Ex.,  He  is  better  than 
I,  not  me;  it  is  easier  for  him  than  me,  not  I. 
So  with  all  conjunctions. 


56  HANDBOOK   OF   BLUNDERS. 

/thankful,  grateful.  Gratitude  is  the  feel- 
ing; thankfulness  its  expression.  Gratitude  is 
sometimes  too  deep  for  utterance. 

tile*  The  first  and  the  second  verse,  not  the  first 
and  second  verse.  The  first  and  second  verses, 
not  the  first  and  the  second  verses. 

their.    Every  one  has  his,  not  their. 

them.  Hot  them  things,  but  those  things. 
(Them  is  not  properly  used  as  an  adjective.) 

thence,  better  than  from  thence. 

there,  they.  "Are  there  many  men?"  not 
"  Are  they  many  men  ?  " 

this*  This  kind,  this  sort,  etc.,  not  these  kind, 
etc. 

thither,  there.  Strictly,  and  in  formal  lan- 
guage, thither  is  preferable  after  words  of 
motion,  and  there  after  words  of  rest.  Ex. 
Go  thither ;  stay  there.  This  usage  prevails  in 
the  Bible,  and  in  Shakespeare,  Milton,  and 
Wordsworth.  (See  here.) 

thou,  thy.  Thou  canst  not  have  thy  (not  your) 
way.  Do  not  interchange  the  solemn  and  the 


HANDBOOK   OF   BLUNDERS.  57 

common  style.  Thou  hearest,  not  heareth. 
(The  ending  eth  belongs  to  the  third  person 
in  the  solemn  style.)  Thy  love  has  (not  hast) 
ever  been  the  same. 

thousand.    (See  hundred.) 

throw.    He  threw,  not  he  throwed. 

thy,  thine.  Same  principle  of  usage  as  gov- 
erns a  and  an,  q.  v. 

to.  With  infinitives  use  £o,  not  for  to.  Try  to 
understand  clearly,  or  try  clearly  to  understand, 
not  try  to  clearly  understand.  (Do  not  put  an 
adverb  between  to  and  its  infinitive.) 

transpire.  The  use  of  this  word  in  the  sense 
of  to  happen  is  censured  both  by  English  and 
American  critics. 

try.    Try  to  do  better,  not  try  and  do  better. 

two-foot,  adj.  A  two-foot  rule,  not  a  two-feet 
rule.  So  ten-foot,  etc. ;  but  the  rule  is  two  feet, 
no t  two  foot,  long. 


58  HANDBOOK   OF   BLUNDERS. 

u. 

uncommon.  Uncommonly  good,  not  uncom- 
mon good. 

under.    Under  way,  not  under  weigh. 

unity,  union.  Union  is  the  state  of  being 
united ;  unity  of  having  one  sentiment.  Not  ail 
that  are  united  live  in  unity. 

up.  Open  up,  eaten  up,  sewed  up,  mixed  up, 
etc.,  vulgarisms. — H.  Alford. 

us.  We  boys  will  go,  not  us  boys.  Let  us  boys 
go,  not  we  boys. 

V. 

v  veracious,  true.     The  person  is  veracious; 

his  statement  is  true. 
vestige,  trace.    Vestiges  are  scattered;  traces 

may  be  followed. 
7ice,  sin.     Vice  is  an  offence  against  morality, 

sin  is  disobedience  of  God's  law. 
w  vicinity,  neighborhood.    Neighborhood  is 
more  immediate. 


HANDBOOK   OF   BLUNDERS.  59 

Victuals*  Victuals  is,  not  victuals  are.  The 
word  seems  to  be  obsolescent 

Visit.  Pay  a  visit.  This  phrase  is  question- 
able. 

W. 

\Xtvarlike,  martial.  Martial  qualifies  the  ex- 
ternal appearance  or  sound;  warlike  qualifies 
the  spirit. 

wa'rn't  cannot  be  defended. 

•was.  Not  you  was,  but  you  were.  Was  not,  or 
wasn't,  not  wa'n't;  not  it  was  a  week  ago  to- 
morrow, but  it  will  be  a  week  ago  to-morrow. 

way.    Away  off,  etc.,  not  way  off. 

were  not,  or  were  n't,  not  wa'n't. 

wliat.  What  he  said  is  true,  not  It  is  true  what 
he  said ;  but,  or  but  that,  not  but  what.  Ex.  I 
do  not  know  but  I  will  go. 

whence,  better  than  from  whence. 

Which,  that,  who.  Never  use  which  as  a 
relative  relating  to  persons;  not  the  man  which, 
but  the  man  that,  or  who.  That  should  be  used 


60  HANDBOOK   OP   BLUNDERS. 

in  all  restrictive  clauses;  e.g.,  The  best  men 
that  live,  not  who. — 

whither,  where.    ( See  thither. ) 

Who,  whom.  Whom,  not  who  did  you  see  ?  For 
whom  is  it,  not  who  is  it  for  ?  So  after  all  pre- 
positions. Who  do  you  think  he  is  ?  not  whom. 

widow,  not  widow  woman. 

Without.  Should  not  he  used  in  the  sense  of 
unless;  " I  will  not  go  unless  it  is  necessary," 
not  "  without  it  is  necessary." 

wonderful,  marvellous.  The  wonderful 
surprises  our  senses;  the  marvellous,  our  reason. 

would  rather,  better,  etc.  Correct  modern 
substitutes  for  the  more  classical "  had  rather," 
etc.  ( See  had  rather. ) 

write.    Is,  or  has,  written,  not  wrote,  nor  writ, 

Y. 

year-old.  A  two-year-old  boy,  not  a  two  years 
old  boy;  but  the  boy  is  two  years,  not  two  year 
old. 

yours,  not  y  cur's. 


Punctuation  anil  Other  Typographical  Matters, 

for  the  use  of  Printers,  Authors,  Teachers,  and  Scholars, 
By  MARSHALL  T.  B1GELO  W,  Corrector  at  the  Uni, 
Cambridge,  for  many  years.       CLOTH* 


Lenox  Library,  New  York. 

DBAK  MB.  BICFSLOW,  —  I  sent  for  your  "  Punctuation  and  othei 
Typographical  Matters  "  (having  long  groaned  over  bad  pointing  in 
authors  and  printers),  and  was  glad  to  find  an  excellent  manual 
which  will  contribute  to  the  comfort  of  many.  I  cordially  recoir 
mend  it  to  all  authors,  printers,  and  men  of  letters. 

Faithfully  yours, 
Alltbone's  Dictionary  of  Authors.    '  T.  AUSTIN  ^iiLiBONB. 

"  Mr.  Bigelow's  book  is  a  practical  treatment  of  the  subject,  and 
enlarges  the  reading  public's  ob!5  Cations  to  him."  —  Atlantic  Monthly. 

"It  is  intended  for  the  use  of  authors  and  teachers,  while  business 
men  who  have  occasion  to  print  circulars,  advertisements,  etc.,  cam 
hardly  afford  to  be  without  a  copy  of  it  for  reference."  —  Schenectady 
Daily  Union. 

Mistakes  in  Writing  English,  and  How  to  Avoid  TheE 

For  the  Use  of  all  who  Teach,  Write,  or  Speak  the  Lan- 
guage. By  MARSHALL  T.  B1GELOW,  author  of 
t(  Punctuation  and.  other  Typographical  Matters.'* 
CLOTH, 

"  This  is  an  admirable  little  work;  the  more  admirable  for  the  use 
of  busy  people,  because  it  is  little,  since  it  is  also  clear  and  compre- 
hensive. The  errors  pointed  out  are  those  to  which  nearly  all  writers 
are  liable.  .  .  .  We  commend  it  as  the  most  convenient  little  manual 
of  which  we  have  knowledge."  —  Christian  Herald. 

"  This  is  a  valuable  little  volume.  It  is  not  a  grammar,  with  rules 
and  definitions  ;  but  it  takes  up  words  and  parts  of  speech,  and  shows, 
generally  by  example,  their  correct  use.  It  is  arranged  sy  sternal* 
«aWy,  and  is  adapted  to  the  use  of  the  home  and  the  school.'*  —  Thx. 
Current. 

"  The  matter  is  wtll  arranged,  and  the  points  upon  which  \istrue 
Uon  is  desired  can  be  readily  found."  —  Christian  Union. 

"  This  is  a  useful  book.  A  careful  study  of  the  several  chapter* 
Srould  be  of  great  advantage  to  all  who  have  to  do  much  or  lit** 
i-  writing.  "—  Gospel  Banner. 


IBB  BIGHT  WOSD  HI  THE  EI&HT  PLAOli. 


CAMPBELL'S 
HANDBOOK  OF  ENGLISH  SYNONYM* 

WITH  AN  APPENDIX, 

SHOWING 

THE  CORRECT  USES  OF  PREPOSITIONS 


This  compact  little  volume  contains  abcmt  40,000  synonywCt? 
words,  printed  in  clear,  distinct  type. 

It  is  a  work  which  will  substantially  aid  speakers,  writers, 
teachers  and  students  —  in  fact  all  who  would  gain  a  more  copious 
vocabulary  and  increase  their  power  of  expression. 

It  includes  the  really  important  matter  of  the  more  bulky  vol- 
umes which  are  commonly  sold  for  two  dollars  or  more. 

A  great  choice  of  words  is  here  placed  at  the  service  of  the 
writer  and  the  speaker. 

The  Appendix,  containing  "  Prepositions  Compared  and  Dis- 
criminated," and  "A  List  showing  what  Prepositions  to  use  after 
certain  Words,"  is  a  trustworthy  guide  in  a  great  number  of  cases 
of  doubtful  usage.  A  writer's  knowledge  of  English  idiom  and 
his  stylo  are  best  sbown  by  bis  use  of  these  little  binges  of  tlv? 
language. 


SAEHELD  AND  TEE  PRONOUNCING  HAKDBOOK. 


SOULE  &  CAMPBELL'S 
PRONOUNCING  HANDBOOK 

OF 

WORDS  OFTEN  MISPRONOUNCED, 

AND  OF  WORDS  AS  TO  WHICH  A  CHOICE  OF  PRONUNCIATION 
IS  ALLOWED. 

3000  Mistakes  in  Pronunciation  Corrected^ 

A  POCKET  VOLUME. 


In  the  able  article  on  "CHARACTERISTICS  OF  PRESI- 
DENT GARFIELD,"  in  The  Century  Magazine,  its  author, 
E.  V.  SMALLEY,  thus  alludes  to  this  little  book: 

"  He  had  a  great  love  for  linguistic  knowledge,  and  would  often 
make  a  half-game  and  half-study  with  his  children  of  telling  the 
meanings  of  words,  or  detecting  errors  in  pronunciation.  Drop- 
ping in  at  his  house,  one  morning  in  the  campaign  summer  of 
1880,  just  as  breakfast  was  over,  I  found  the  family  lingering  at 
the  table  while  the  General  read  from  a  little  dictionary  of  words 
frequently  mispronounced.  He  would  spell  the  word,  and  then 
ask  each  in  turn  what  the  correct  pronunciation  should  be.  The 
elders  were  about  as  apt  to  make  mistakes  as  the  children,  and  a 
great  deal  of  lively  chat  and  merriment,  and  not  a  little  instruc- 
tion, resulted  from  the  exercise.  This  he  kept  up  every  morning 
after  breakfast  until  the  book  was  exhausted." 


"MOST  BIDICULOUS  MISTAKES"  AVOIDED. 

KNQL1SH 

SYNONYMS  DISCRIMINATED 

BY 

RICHARD    WHATELY,    D.  D.f 
Archbishop  of  Dublin, 


While  especially  adapted  to  the  use  of  writers  and  those  who 
desire  to  express  themselves  in  exact  and  discriminating 
terms,  this  book  will  be  of  interest  to  every  one  who  may  wish 
to  gain  more  precision  in  the  use  of  our  language.  In  com- 
piling this  valuable  work,  the  accomplished  author  has  de- 
parted from  the  customary  methods,  and  has  not  contented  him- 
self with  giving  merely  the  apparent  synonyms  in  the  lan- 
guage, but  elaborates  on  the  nice  distinction  in  the  meaning 
of  common  words,  usually  considered  synonymous  terms.  In 
this  feature  Consists  the  especial  importance  of  Dr.  Whately's 
volume.  / 

"Words  apparently  synonymous — and  really  so  in  the 
great  majority  of  instances  — have  nevertheless  each  an  ap- 
propriate meaning,  which  on  certain  occasions  is  made  to 
appear.  The  propriety  ofmeaning  is  known,  a  priori,  by  the 
scholar  who  is  acquainted  with  the  etymology  of  the  word,  but 
the  person  who  has  collected  its  meaning  only  from  its  use  is 
ever  liable  to  mistakes  and  the  mogi  ridiculous  mistakes',  be- 
cause perhaps  in  his  experience,  it  has  never  been  used  in  such 
&  /nanner  as  to  demonstrate  its  peculiar  signification.'  To 
"itch  this  book  by  a  distinguished  author  will  prove  inva'uable 


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